"Everything good, madam," I said, kissing the hand she had laid on mine—"Truth, and kindness, and patience—" and here the lump came in my throat again, and I could say no more. "Aye, patience! Learn patience, maiden. It will stand thee in good stead," said my Lady, with something nearer to bitterness than ever I heard from her before, and then she murmured some lines, which, as I remember, ran thus: "Bring me a woman constant to her husband, One that ne'er dreamed a joy above his pleasure; And to that woman, when she hath done most, Yet will I add an honor—a great patience." "Do you know who writ those lines, Margaret?" "Shakspeare, I should say, Madam, though I never read them," I answered. "You are right; they are Shakspeare's. No one else could so have expressed that character of Queen Catharine. People do not set much store by him nowadays, but I cannot but think the time will come when he will be set far above those playwrights, who are now so much the fashion. You shall have the book and read the play for yourself. But never mind that now. "Margaret, I have no special directions to give you regarding my poor child. I am sure you will manage her rightly and reasonably, and always be her friend. For her sake, I am glad that you are like to be settled so near us. I might say more on this head, but that I feel an inward persuasion, almost amounting to a certainty, that Betty will not be long behind me, if I am taken away." She paused a little, and then went on to speak of the child that was coming, saying: "If it should be a boy, he will have friends, more than enough, but if a girl, I commend her to your love and care. I am sure you will care for her, Margaret." I answered her as well as I could. "You must not mind my Lord's humors," she continued. "He is brave, generous and kindhearted, but he is naturally high-spirited, and having been used to living so much amidst dependents, he is naturally impatient of contradiction." "Or of anything else but gross flattery and subserviency," I could not help thinking. And in truth 'tis hard to believe very much in the greatness of a man, who must be managed like a child, and who cannot hear the least word of dissent or contradiction, without scolding and fretting, till he makes himself a spectacle. I am glad Walter has been knocked about the world a little more, for I am sure I should lose all respect for him if he should treat me many times as my Lord treats my Lady, who has more sense in her glove than he ever had in his hat. My Lady finished what she had to say to me, and my Lord coming in, I retired.